Page 974 - Sports

Divij Sharan is new number one doubles players of India

Divij Sharan on Monday became India's new number one doubles player, overtaking veteran Rohan Bopanna by moving to 38 in the latest ATP rankings. The left-handed Sharan, who has been one of the most consistent players on the doubles circuit with partner Artem Sitak, has held the numero uno position in the country for the first time in his career. Bopanna dropped nine places to 39 while Leander Paes gained two places to be 60 in the world now. Another consistent player Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan touched a career-high rank of 72 with a jump of three places. "It feels pretty amazing to have become the highest ranked player in India today. It's not easy by any means with Mahesh, Leander and Rohan having dominated the doubles circuit for the last couple of decades but they have carved the path and set the trend for the rest of us," the 32-year-old Sharan told PTI. "We have had as many as seven players from India ranked in the top 100 this year which is impressive. Personally it's been another ..

Ajaz Patel picked for New Zealand Test squad against Pakistan

Indian-born spinner Ajaz Patel has been selected in New Zealand's 14-member squad for T20 International series against Pakistan to be held in United Arab Emirates (UAE).The Central Stags' left-arm spinner has been chosen for October-December series as a replacement for left-handed batsman Micthell Santner who is still recovering from his knee injury.On Patel's selection into the team, New Zealand head coach Gary Stead said, "It's no secret that spin is crucial in this part of the world and with the wickets on the slower side, we've taken the option of a second spinner to bring our squad up to 14-player.""We're fortunate that Ajaz has been playing over here for the past month and playing well; so he'll be ready to go should he get his chance in the series," ICC quoted Stead as saying.New Zealand will play three Tests, five ODIs and three T20Is during the UAE tour. The series commences on October 31.Patel made his first List-A debut with Central Stags in 2015 by Ford trophy. This year ..

Mumbai ODI: India opt to bat against Windies

Looking to resurrect their ODI campaign against West Indies in the fourth ODI of the five-match series played at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, India chose to bat after winning the toss here on Monday.After a resurgent West Indies team levelled up the ongoing five-match One Day International (ODI) series, India ought to solve its disarrayed middle-order in order to sweep the series.There have been two changes in the Indian squad - Kedar Jadhav has replaced Rishabh Pant while Ravindra Jadeja has been brought in place of Yuzvendra Chahal.The West Indies side have also made one change, with Keemo Paul in for Obed McCoy. Apart from Indian skipper Virat Kohli, who hammered three centuries on the trot 140, 157 (not out), 107, none of the other batsmen stood their ground as the Caribbean side's bowlers ran roughshod over the Indian batting line-up.India didn't need its middle order in the first two ODIs. But, when the team pinned its hope on it in third ODI, it failed to anchor the team. ..

Aussie cricket union urges cut to Smith, Warner bans

Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft should have their cheating bans slashed because they were put under too much pressure by administrators, the Australian Cricketers' Association said Monday. In the wake of a scathing report about the actions of Cricket Australia in the run-up to the March "sandpaper" incident that rocked the sport, the players' union painted the three Test stars as victims of circumstance and said they should be free to take the field again at the top level. An independent review by a leading ethicist said the governing body put too much pressure on the players to win at all costs. "The events in South Africa were in part a by-product of a culture and system which, amongst other things, placed too much pressure on players to win," said ACA President Greg Dyer, a former Test wicketkeeper. "Basic fairness demands these independently verified contributing factors must now be taken into consideration and the penalties reduced. "There must be a reconsideration

Indian paddler Raegan settles for silver at Egypt Open

Fourth seed Raegan Alburquerque failed to clear the final hurdle, going down fighting to China's Ding Shixian 8-11, 12-10, 11-13, 9-11, 11-13 in the Junior Boys final at the Egypt Open in Sharm El Sheikh. The unseeded Chinese, making his maiden international appearance, conceded the second game before wrapping it up for an excellent career beginning and forcing the Indian to settle with a silver. Having accounted for host nation's Marwan Abdelwahab 11-7, 14-12, 7-11, 11-3, 14-12 in the semifinals on Sunday, Raegan was expected to make use of the opportunity later in the evening. Though his start was not as good as he would have wanted, he did manage to take the second game. The 14-year-old Chinese, playing cautiously and maintaining his form, won several crucial points to upset the Indian's attacking style of game. Ding won two vital games, the third and the fifth, on extended points for the title. In Mini Cadet Boys singles, Vishal Rajveer Shah defeated Badr Mostafa of Egypt in ...

India to bat vs West Indies in 4th ODI

India won the toss and elected to bat against West Indies in the fourth One-Day International match at the Brabourne Stadium here on Monday.

Cricket Australia accused of creating cheating culture

Cricket Australia (CA) has been accused of creating a "win-at-all-costs" environment which led to a recent cheating scandal and the reputation of one of the country's most loved sports being damaged.

Manchester United bounce back with 2-1 win over Everton

Manchester United bounced back with a 2-1 victory over visiting Everton in the English Premier League, five days after its 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Juventus in the UEFA Champions League group stage.

Suarez scores hat trick as Barcelona destroy Real Madrid

Uruguay forward Luis Suarez scored a hat trick, leading Barcelona to a 5-1 rout over Real Madrid in the El Clasico duel between the La Liga arch-rivals, while pushing Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui one step closer to a possible firing.

Alaves down Villarreal in Spanish La Liga football action

Jonathan Calleri and Borja Baston scored the two goals whereby Deportivo Alaves downed Villarreal 2-1 in an intense match that went into extra time.

Sevilla beats Huesca 2-1

Sevilla beat Sociedad Deportiva Huesca 2-1 with two goals by Pablo Sarabia in the second half here.

Ramos says players in the dark about Lopetegui future

Sergio Ramos insists Real Madrid's players have been told nothing about a change of coach after their 5-1 defeat to Barcelona left Julen Lopetegui on the brink of the sack. Luis Suarez scored a hat-trick as Madrid were ripped apart at Camp Nou and familiar failings in defence were exposed again. Philippe Coutinho and Arturo Vidal scored either side of Suarez's treble while a Marcelo goal briefly threatened a comeback early in the second half on Sunday. The European champions have now managed only one victory from their last six matches and reports in the Spanish press on Sunday night indicated Lopetegui could be removed as soon as Monday, with Antonio Conte ready to take charge. "We have to wait, they have not told us anything," Ramos said after the match. "These are decisions not made by us so we have to keep a cool head, look at ourselves and try to change things to get better results. "We will see what happens in the coming hours and tomorrow but the players are always with the ...

Djokovic targets top spot in Paris as Nadal returns from injury

Novak Djokovic can complete a stunning return to world number one at the Paris Masters this week as Rafael Nadal hits the comeback trail for the first time since limping out of the US Open. Roger Federer could also resurface in the French capital after a three-year absence, although the 20-time Grand Slam champion said a decision on his participation will be made on Tuesday. The Swiss star won his 99th career title in Basel over the weekend but hasn't played in Paris since 2015 due to a combination of injury and selective scheduling. Djokovic also missed last year's event as he dropped outside the top 10 for the first time in over a decade, but the Serb, who was lingering down at a ranking of 22nd as recently as June, arrives having won 27 of his last 28 matches. "In both the US Open and Shanghai, I've played as good as ever," said Djokovic, who claimed his 14th major championship in New York. "So I really enjoy tennis at the moment and enjoy competing, because obviously when you're ..

Ball-tampering report slams 'arrogant' Cricket Australia culture

A review into a ball-tampering scandal has condemned an "arrogant" and "controlling" culture at Cricket Australia that led to players cheating in pursuit of victory. The independent review by the Sydney-based Ethics Centre accused Cricket Australia (CA) of only paying lip service to the spirit of the game, leaving players without any moral guidance. "Responsibility for that larger picture lies with CA and not just the players held directly responsible for the appalling incident at Newlands," said the review, which was released on Monday. The scandal involved Australian players using sandpaper to alter the flight of the ball in a Test match against South Africa last March at Cape Town's Newlands Stadium. Coach Darren Lehmann quit in the wake of the controversy and then-captain Steve Smith, deputy David Warner and batsman Cameron Bancroft were banned from the game. The scandal also claimed the scalps of CA chief executive James Sutherland and team performance boss Pat Howard. The ...

Lewis Hamilton: Humble beginnings to F1 hero status

Lewis Hamilton joined one of sport's most exclusive clubs when he became just the third driver to win a fifth Formula One world title. His fourth-place finish at the Mexico Grand Prix on Sunday lifted him into the company of the sport's true greats, joining seven-time champion Michael Schumacher and fellow five-time winner Juan-Manuel Fangio -- who he describes as "The Godfather" -- in the F1 pantheon. To have won more than men like Australia's Jack Brabham, fellow-Briton Jackie Stewart, Austrian Niki Lauda and Brazilians Nelson Piquet and Ayrton Senna as well as modern day rival Sebastian Vettel is a spectacular statement of achievement. The son of a black father and a white mother, who survived a broken home in his youth, Hamilton, 33, grew up on a municipal housing estate in Stevenage where his father Anthony at one time held down three jobs to fund his son's embryonic racing career in karts. His journey was unprivileged and without luxury, but it was clear from an early age that ..

Five-time champion Hamilton praises 'amazing' team, family

Lewis Hamilton paid tribute to the "amazing support" of his team and family after securing his fifth drivers' title at the Mexican Grand Prix. The 33-year-old Briton said Mercedes had been "an incredible unit" and pledged to carry on fighting for more race wins this year as the team seek to retain their constructors' crown. Ironically, as he admitted, the day of his greatest title triumph came with one of his worst races of the year as he came home fourth behind triumphant Dutchman Max Verstappen of Red Bull on Sunday. "I don't know if it will ever kick in," said Hamilton. "We have just had a difficult afternoon and it was tough. I didn't know if we would get the car home. "It has been the toughest year physically, mentally and personally with everything I'm committed to, but I have amazing support. "Mercedes and my team have just been the most incredible unit and worked to raise the bar. In my mind it is just another day of fighting and I have more races to win, it is not over. "In ..

Hamilton joins Fangio with 'surreal' fifth world title

Lewis Hamilton claimed his fifth drivers' world championship to draw level with Juan Manuel Fangio in the Formula One record books when he finished fourth behind a victorious Max Verstappen in the Mexican Grand Prix. Hamilton's success - the third time he has taken the title without finishing on the race podium - elevated him to a supreme club alongside Fangio with only seven-time champion Michael Schumacher ahead of him. He was adding the 2018 crown to his championship wins in 2008, 2014, 2015 and 2017. The 33-year-old Briton's only remaining championship rival Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari, who needed a victory, with Hamilton outside the top seven, to keep his hopes alive, finished second on Sunday. He celebrated by executing 'doughnut' wheel spins for the cheering crowd before leaping out of his car and into the arms of his team. After being congratulated by Vettel, Hamilton said: "It's a very strange feeling right now." After surviving what turned into a battle of attrition at the ..

Babar, Shadab help Pakistan whitewash Australia

Opener Babar Azam struck a half-century and leg-spinner Shadab Khan claimed three wickets as Pakistan secured a 3-0 T20 series whitewash over Australia with a 33-run victory in Dubai. Azam's 40-ball 50 lifted Pakistan to another challenging total of 150-5 before Shadab's 3-19 helped bowl Australia out for 117 in 19.1 overs on Sunday. It is Pakistan's first-ever whitewash against Australia in a limited-over series and their 10th series win under Sarfraz Ahmed since he took over as captain in September 2016. Pakistan justified their world-number-one ranking in the shortest format of the game, following a 66-run thrashing in Abu Dhabi with an 11-run win in Dubai. Australia's batting line-up never recovered from being bowled out for 89 in the first game. Only Mitchell Marsh (21), Ben McDermott (21) and Alex Carey (20) looked like getting big scores on Sunday against a varied Pakistan attack. Carey, promoted to open the innings, smashed two fours and two sixes in Imad Wasim's first over of

Leicester City owner confirmed dead in chopper crash

English Premier League club Leicester City has confirmed that their Thai billionaire owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, along with other four people on board, were killed when his helicopter crashed outside a stadium.

Mexican Grand Prix: Hamilton seals fifth F1 title

British Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton on Sunday finished fourth in the Mexican Grand Prix to clinch his fifth world championship crown, equalling his tally with the legendary Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio."It's a very strange feeling right now. I've been with Mercedes since I was 13, to complete this, when Fangio has done it with Mercedes, is an incredible feeling. It's a bit surreal at the moment," Formula 1 quoted Hamilton as saying.Hamilton was challenged for the majority of the season by Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel as the German chased a fifth championship title of his own. However, following Vettel's victory in the Belgian Grand Prix in August, Hamilton won four out of the next five races to establish a 70-point lead at the summit.With three races to spare, the 33-year-old needed a seventh-placed finish or better in Mexico's Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit to seal the championship. 21-year-old Dutch racer Max Verstappen clinched his fifth career race win on the day with .